Stars tease what to expect when 'Doctor Who' returns Aug. 27

By Curt WagnerRedEye

"Doctor Who" will return to BBC America Aug. 27 with the final six episodes of the current season, and with the Doctor, Amy and Rory in an adventure called "Let's Kill Hitler."

That news came out of the "Who" panel at San Diego Comic-Con Sunday, where stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, as well as producers Piers Wenger and Beth Willis and writer Toby Whithouse, talked about Season 6 past and present.

During the press event before the panel, Smith and Gillan teased the second half of the show's sixth season. Here is a quick rundown of what they had to say. As River Song would say, spoilers!

According to the stars, "Let's Kill Hitler" is a wonderful episode.

"I think it's my favorite title of the season so far," Smith told reporters. "Alex Kingston [River Song] is on fine fiddle through the episode. She is just brilliant in it. There are some great science-fiction moments where you are going ‘no way!'"

Gillan called Kingston's performance her best to date, but was equally excited about "this really cool robot/villain." But after telling us that "it goes back in time and fixes people that have done [something] wrong in history," she questioned whether it is indeed a villain.

Amy's relationship with River also will be examined more closely after the "big revelation" in the first half of the season. "We'll see parental instincts coming into play," Gillan said. "It is really weird."

Smith also gave kudos to Gillan for her performance in Episode 10, where something "really, really bad" happens to Amy, "And the Doctor is part of it."

The duo teased a few other things to look forward to seeing, including Cybermen, James Corden returning as Craig Owens (from last year's "The Lodger"), crazy dolls and, of course, a massive twist in the finale.